Star Trek icon William Shatner makes bizarre career pivot at 95

The announcement that Star Trek icon William Shatner would be playing at this year’s Riot Fest music festival threw fans for a loop.

The 95-year-old actor was revealed Thursday as a performer for the festival, as he will be fronting his band The *uckers during a show slated for September 20 at Douglᴀss Park in Chicago.

The Montreal native was seen in a clip in which he confirmed his foray into the new musical venture in the Windy City.

‘Riot fest fans, Shatner here, I’ve been dinking around, found all those letters you sent me,’ Shatner said. ‘And I’ve decided, you’re such big fans of mine, that I’m gonna debut my heavy metal record at Riot Fest.

‘And I hope you’re there, and I hope I’m there. And I hope that you have my rider, and yes, don’t forget, my bowl of sauerkraut, if you please.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Shatner for further comment on the story. 

The announcement that Star Trek icon William Shatner, 95, would be playing at this year’s Riot Fest music festival threw fans for a loop 

The actor played Captain James T. Kirk on the famed TV series from 1966-1969 

The festival confirmed Shatner’s involvement on its Instagram on Thursday with what appeared to be an AI pH๏τo of Shatner in a black rock outfit making a horns signal with a guitar in hand.

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‘After years of writing letters… Riot Fest 2026: Now with 100% more williamshatner, with his heavy metal band The *uckers,’ the festival said. ‘Appearing Sunday. Tickets on sale now.’

A number of fans commented on the actor’s foray onto the stage, with one writing, ‘A 95 year old man doing heavy metal at Riot Fest, damn lol.’

Another commenter referenced other actors who have gotten into music, saying, ‘Stamos in 25, Shatner in 26…Johnny Depp and Hollywood Vampires in 27?’

One person referenced some of Shatner’s past musical work, in a cover of the Pulp classic Common People.

‘His version of Common People is amazing,’ the user said. ‘Very cool Riot Fest.’

Said one fan: ‘I’ve never been more excited about a thing I never knew existed.’ 

Other comments included, ‘Aye Aye Captain,’ ‘This is everything,’ and ‘U got the best agent WS.’

The festival confirmed Shatner’s involvement on its Instagram on Thursday with what appeared to be an AI pH๏τo of Shatner in a black rock outfit making a horns signal with a guitar in hand 

Shatner is set to play the third day of the festival, which features Alanis Morissette and Pierce The Veil 

A number of fans commented on the actor’s foray onto the stage

The Riot Fest posted a humorous note pointing out a tour rider for Shatner that included artist requirements for the veteran actor.

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‘Hey Chicago, we just received a personal video message from williamshatner,’ it read. ‘His rider… is a lot.

‘But we’re committed to showing him what he means to us and we’re going to need your help. We don’t want years of letter-writing to go to waste. Anybody willing to lend a hand?’

Among the provisions on the rider, specified to the city of Chicago, included the renaming of a boat in his honor ‘so he can captain a ship again’ and ‘a classic Chicago food item to be named in tribute to William Shatner.’

Other asks on the rider specified to the Riot Fest included ‘four feet of Polish sausage;’ ‘a bouquet of flowers in a vase;’ and a Montreal Canadiens hockey sweater signed by John Stamos, who played at the festival last year. 

Shatner alluded to his Star Trek past in a statement about his participation at the festival.

‘I’ve always believed that music, like space, is about exploration,’ he said, according to People. ‘Riot Fest is exactly the kind of place where anything can happen.

‘We’re bringing volume, intensity, and a few surprises. I can’t wait to share this experience with the fans.’

The Riot Fest posted a note pointing out a tour rider for Shatner that included artist requirements for the veteran actor 

Shatner vowed he was ‘gonna debut [his] heavy metal record at Riot Fest’

Backing Shatner in his new band include guitarist-musical director Marcus Nand, bᴀssist Phil Soussan, guitarist Britt Lightning and drummer Fred Aching, according to the outlet.

The set will consist of tracks Shatner has previously performed as well as songs from a forthcoming album тιтled What the F Is Heavy Metal.

‘That’s the name of the album,’ he told People, ‘because I know nothing or didn’t know anything until I found out how little I do know.’

Among the 100 artists set to perform at the festival include Twenty One Pilots, Iggy Pop, Morrissey, the Pixies, the Sєx Pistols, Nas, Public Image Ltd., Bad Religion and Taking Back Sunday, along with others. 

The 2026 Riot Fest is slated to commence at Chicago’s Douglᴀss Park from September 18–20.

Shatner pictured at a fan expo in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on April 26 

Shatner made headlines in April after he took to Facebook to debunk a hoax that he had been battling cancer.

‘I wanted to put this out yesterday but given the day and the possibility that it would look like a joke I waited for today,’ he said. ‘There is a page on Facebook that is using AI to create horrible fake news stories about me.’

He cited stories linking him to ‘stage 4 brain cancer;’ ‘some kind of fight with Erika Kirk;’ and that he was ‘dying.’

Shatner noted, ‘All their stories are monetized. Most of the stories use an AI image of me.’

He added that he had made efforts for the content to be taken down, urging his fans to remain skeptical in situations as such.

‘None of these stories are true,’ he said, ‘but they apparently seem genuine enough for fans to repost them across social media and send messages of support to me and my family all while the culprits behind the account make money.

‘If you see a bizarre story about me; unless you see it posted on one of my verified accounts take it with a grain of salt.’